HS2 and Me – November 2020
Let me share with you that the eviction of our treetop dwellers from the BeanCan House in Jones Hill Wood (Roald Dahl Wood), by police climbers, and on the ground by the hired National Eviction Team, was underpinned by disproportionate violence and brutality towards Non Violent protectors.
The brave protectors had steadfastly protected Wendover’s last scrap of ancient woodland for over ten days. (It was so loved by Roald Dahl that he set his Fantastic Mr Fox story there.) They lived high up in its canopy, in harmony with the woods and its inhabitants, including, as we now know, the rare Barbastelle bat. And they recorded and monitored the fragile lives of those little woodland inhabitants.
On 9 October a report was published by a team of independent ecologists containing this damning information, “HS2 Ltd had no licence in place to legally disturb Barbastelle bats or to damage or destroy their roosts. Indeed, Natural England have now also confirmed that HS2 Ltd do not have a valid licence relating to any bat species at Jones’ Hill Wood, because they have not fulfilled the required registration of any licensed works there” and “. . . observed bats disturbed from their roosts by HS2 machinery including a cherry picker, and flying in the afternoon, hours before dusk.”
We continue to try and save Wendover from the ravages of HS2. Grateful thanks for the wonderful support we already experience.
Ann Hayward
